Pauley wins Southern Nationals race

Published: Sunday, May 25, 2014 at 04:39 PM.

COMMERCE, Ga. — Drag racer Ed Pauley, a Shelby native, took home the Super Street class championship at the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway on May 19.

Pauley won the final round with a near-perfect reaction time. Pauley was driving his 1968 red Chevrolet Camaro with his 14-year-old son, Dawson Pauley, helping him prepare for each round of competition.

“I had a feeling my dad was going to win. I wasn’t even nervous in the final round. He was driving really good,” Dawson Pauley said.

He defeated Brad Plourd of Cullman, Ala., with a .004-second reaction time and a 10.945-second pass at 131.92 mph.

“I’ve been drag racing almost my whole life. I started racing when I was 15 years old with my dad and I always wanted to win a national event, and this was my first final round,” Ed Pauley said. “I just wish my dad could have been here to see it. He would have loved to be here with me.”

His father, Larry Pauley, who owned and operated P & H Transmissions in Shelby for more than 40 years, passed away this February.

“Drag racing is a sport that families can do together. I was fortunate to spend many weekends with my mom and dad, and now my family can enjoy a sport that I love,” Ed Pauley said. “I was lucky to have my wife, Deanna, and daughter, Madeline, in Atlanta too.”

Ed Pauley continues the family tradition and love of drag racing with his son as well. Dawson Pauley drives a junior dragster and will move up to the adult class next year like his dad.

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COMMERCE, Ga. — Drag racer Ed Pauley, a Shelby native, took home the Super Street class championship at the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway on May 19.

Pauley won the final round with a near-perfect reaction time. Pauley was driving his 1968 red Chevrolet Camaro with his 14-year-old son, Dawson Pauley, helping him prepare for each round of competition.

“I had a feeling my dad was going to win. I wasn’t even nervous in the final round. He was driving really good,” Dawson Pauley said.

He defeated Brad Plourd of Cullman, Ala., with a .004-second reaction time and a 10.945-second pass at 131.92 mph.

“I’ve been drag racing almost my whole life. I started racing when I was 15 years old with my dad and I always wanted to win a national event, and this was my first final round,” Ed Pauley said. “I just wish my dad could have been here to see it. He would have loved to be here with me.”

His father, Larry Pauley, who owned and operated P & H Transmissions in Shelby for more than 40 years, passed away this February.

“Drag racing is a sport that families can do together. I was fortunate to spend many weekends with my mom and dad, and now my family can enjoy a sport that I love,” Ed Pauley said. “I was lucky to have my wife, Deanna, and daughter, Madeline, in Atlanta too.”

Ed Pauley continues the family tradition and love of drag racing with his son as well. Dawson Pauley drives a junior dragster and will move up to the adult class next year like his dad.